4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313231353838 English NRW_DS23774 Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en 2026-10-07T12:39:39.635Z NRW 1.0 wel utf8 British National Grid (EPSG::27700) The status and distribution of the scarab beetles Rhysothorax rufa and Onthophagus nuchicornis on Welsh dunes in 2017 The status and distribution of the scarab beetles Rhysothorax rufa and Onthophagus nuchicornis on Welsh dunes in 2017 Statws a dosbarthiad chwilod y dom Rhysothorax rufa ac Onthophagus nuchicornis ar dwyni Cymru yn 2017 2018-05-01 NRW_DS121588 http://naturalresources.wales/ The Endangered Red Dune Crawler (Rhysothorax rufa) has been recorded from only a handful of dune systems in England and Wales and has not been recorded in England for over fifteen years. In Wales, it is known from Kenfig Burrows, where a single adult was found on 20 July 1994, and from Merthyr Mawr Warren, where single adults were recorded in June 1981 and on 21 May 2006. Adults feed on detritus within sandy habitats. A survey undertaken in 2017 failed to locate the beetle at either site. Current management at both Kenfig Burrows and Merthyr Mawr Warren is considered sympathetic to the conservation of this species. The Vulnerable Dillwyn's Dung Beetle (Onthophagus nuchicornis) was formerly widespread across England and Wales. However, it has declined dramatically in England and is now known from only five of its 30 previously recorded locations, where it is encountered infrequently and often as single individuals. In Wales, it is restricted to coastal sand dune systems and has been recorded from fifteen sites, ranging from Merthyr Mawr Warren in the south-east to Morfa Harlech in the north-west. Larvae develop in the dung of a range of mammals but are thought to be largely dependent on that of large herbivores such as cattle, ponies, and sheep. A survey undertaken in 2017 at known sites, using both hand-searching and baited pitfall traps, recorded Onthophagus nuchicornis at seven localities: Kenfig Burrows (975 adults), Merthyr Mawr Warren (36), Morfa Harlech (1), Oxwich Burrows (4), Pembrey Burrows (32), Pennard Burrows (4), and Whiteford Burrows (5). The population at Kenfig Burrows is the strongest known in the UK. Elsewhere, absence and low population levels are strongly correlated with the cessation of grazing and reductions in the quantity and quality of available dung. Management practices, including grazing regimes, are considered beneficial for the conservation of this species at three sites (Kenfig Burrows, Merthyr Mawr Warren, and Whiteford Burrows), although there remains scope for improvement. Increased access for cattle to mobile dunes and areas of disturbed open sand would be particularly beneficial for Onthophagus nuchicornis. Management recommendations are provided for all currently occupied sites. The Endangered Red Dune Crawler (Rhysothorax rufa) has been recorded from only a handful of dune systems in England and Wales and has not been recorded in England for over fifteen years. In Wales, it is known from Kenfig Burrows, where a single adult was found on 20 July 1994, and from Merthyr Mawr Warren, where single adults were recorded in June 1981 and on 21 May 2006. Adults feed on detritus within sandy habitats. A survey undertaken in 2017 failed to locate the beetle at either site. Current management at both Kenfig Burrows and Merthyr Mawr Warren is considered sympathetic to the conservation of this species. The Vulnerable Dillwyn's Dung Beetle (Onthophagus nuchicornis) was formerly widespread across England and Wales. However, it has declined dramatically in England and is now known from only five of its 30 previously recorded locations, where it is encountered infrequently and often as single individuals. In Wales, it is restricted to coastal sand dune systems and has been recorded from fifteen sites, ranging from Merthyr Mawr Warren in the south-east to Morfa Harlech in the north-west. Larvae develop in the dung of a range of mammals but are thought to be largely dependent on that of large herbivores such as cattle, ponies, and sheep. A survey undertaken in 2017 at known sites, using both hand-searching and baited pitfall traps, recorded Onthophagus nuchicornis at seven localities: Kenfig Burrows (975 adults), Merthyr Mawr Warren (36), Morfa Harlech (1), Oxwich Burrows (4), Pembrey Burrows (32), Pennard Burrows (4), and Whiteford Burrows (5). The population at Kenfig Burrows is the strongest known in the UK. Elsewhere, absence and low population levels are strongly correlated with the cessation of grazing and reductions in the quantity and quality of available dung. Management practices, including grazing regimes, are considered beneficial for the conservation of this species at three sites (Kenfig Burrows, Merthyr Mawr Warren, and Whiteford Burrows), although there remains scope for improvement. Increased access for cattle to mobile dunes and areas of disturbed open sand would be particularly beneficial for Onthophagus nuchicornis. Management recommendations are provided for all currently occupied sites. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Watkins Norton House, Ross Road, Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0LW ceri.watkins@queens.ox.ac.uk Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en Habitats and biotopes Protected sites Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme Rhysothorax rufa invertebrate surveys entomological survey Onthophagus nuchicornis ecological surveys NRW Thesaurus 2026-08-27 geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. no limitations © CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose. Attribution statement: Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Open Government Licence English biota SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 Wales (WLS) -5.777741 -2.608865 51.240829 53.513067 2017-05-20 2017-06-18 The status and distribution of the scarab beetles Rhysothorax rufa and Onthophagus nuchicornis on Welsh dunes in 2017 Database Unknown Species records on Welsh Invertebrate Database Documents Unknown Report as pdf format Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation. false Surveys were by visual searches and baited pitfall traps. Surveys were by visual searches and baited pitfall traps.